NYC Commemorates International Women’s Day In City Hall Park

Women For Women founder and CEO Zainab Salbi, far left, and actress Azita Ghanizada, far right, lead a peace march across the Brooklyn Bridge, organized by Women For Women in collaboration with Google, in honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Tuesday, March 8, 2011 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Women For Women)

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) — Women from across the area and the globe marched across the Brooklyn Bridge and held a rally in City Hall Park Tuesday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

“It’s a day to celebrate women — women all over the world. Women that are suffering, women that are struggling, women that have been in war-torn and violent nations. It’s to celebrate them and let us all come together,” she said.

One woman from the West African nation of Guinea said “me being here today it’s amazing…and I’m here to support…all the women suffering out there.”

Marvell Davis told Brooks the celebration represented the power of women all around the world as they supported each other.

Another woman from New York said women’s day for meant that there was “hope and opportunity for all.”

“At the same time, we don’t forget our grandmothers and our mothers who have worked hard for what we have,” she said.

At a White House reception, First Lady Michelle Obama said that while women were breaking barriers and excelling in careers their mothers and grandmothers believed were off-limits, more progress was needed to achieve true equality.

“We as a nation benefit from every girl whose potential is fulfilled, from every woman whose talent is tapped,” Obama said.

Mrs. Obama pointed out American women were now the majority of college graduates and nearly half of the work force. They’re leaders in business and serve at the highest levels of government and the military, she said.

“While we’ve made some important strides, all of you in this room know better than anyone else that this work is far from finished,” Obama said. “We have so, so much more to do.”